Category Archives: Pregnancy Resources

Congrats on your new family member to come! You’re probably eager and/or nervous to tell everyone the exciting news. Read on for when and how to make the big announcement, and when you’re ready, check out these great birth announcement options.

Timing

When you choose to share the news is really a personal decision that only you can make. And, there’s really no right or wrong answer when it comes to timing. That being said, many women choose to keep their news private until the first trimester has passed. After 12 weeks, the risk of a miscarriage drops substantially. You might consider just telling family and close friends before then.

The Announcement

You by no means have to make a ‘big announcement’ on social media or otherwise. If you’re a more private person, then just tell close friends and family, and others if or when it comes up.

However, it is a good idea to tell coworkers so they aren’t left wondering why you’re running off to the bathroom every half hour. At worst, your boss could mistake your absences for poor performance. Don’t leave them to their own assumptions.

If you do want to share your news in a more public way, here are some fun and creative ideas:

Announce on social media and ask people for advice

Instead of just announcing your pregnancy, ask people to share their top tips. Start a ‘note’ on Facebook, so you have everything in a searchable format v.s. just asking for comments on a post. This is a great way to get friends and family more involved with your journey if you want them to be. New moms love to give advice to their expecting friends about pregnancy and parenting. It’s also a way to crowdsource useful information and resources with minimal effort. Have older relatives that aren’t on social media? Send them a letter with a pre-addressed return envelope and ask them to reply back with their favorite piece of advice for new moms.

Have photos taken

Schedule a pregnancy photo shoot with your spouse. You’re probably overdue for some cute photos together anyway. Then, share them on social media or go old-school and have prints made. You’ll be thankful later in life that you preserved the moment, especially if this is your first pregnancy. Giving relatives a framed photo is a great way to share your news in a more personal manner.

Host a party or go out to dinner

Invite your loved ones over for an intimate gathering or throw a major celebration, if that’s your style. Or, just invite a few friends out for a meal. You know what to say when they ask why you’re not drinking! Put a photo from your pregnancy shoot or sonogram on display and it will do the talking for you.

Bake something

Let the cookies or cake break the ice for you. Bake something yourself or head to a grocery store or bakery and let them do the work. Bring a tray of cookies to the office as a way of sharing the news with coworkers. They’ll be excited for you and for the treats.

Choosing a baby name can be overwhelming, but really, the process should be fun. Pinterest is a great place to start for everything baby-related, and baby names are no exception. We’ve sorted through all the lists and included our favorite ones here for your convenience. This post will help you narrow down which ‘type’ of baby name you want – popular, old-fashioned, unique and so on.

Here are some categories of names to consider:

Popular Names

Avery, Jackson, Sophia, Emma, Milo

These baby names are just a few of the most popular choices from the last two years, and there’s a reason for that. Do you want a baby name that’s trending? Start by looking through the top baby names for boys and girls in 2017.

Baby Names with Fantastic Nicknames

William “Liam,” Collette “Coco,” Isabella “Izzy”

A lot of the time, nicknames are unavoidable. Even if you want your child to be called by their given name, relatives and even your kid might have different ideas. So, you might as well choose a name that also has a great nickname. Check out 12 Baby Names with Fantastic Nicknames.

Old-Fashioned Baby Names

Adeline, Lincoln, Victor, Raymond

Take a nod from the past and consider an old-fashioned baby name. Everything that’s old comes back into style at some point so your kiddo will be ahead of the curve. Take a look at The Ultimate List of Old Fashioned Baby Names.

There are tons of names to choose from and these are just a starting point. After you gather some initial ideas, continue your search on Babble, a resource provided by Disney. You can sort baby names by letter, origin, or theme.

At 26 weeks, you’re approaching the third trimester of your pregnancy. Your baby is getting bigger and your body is undergoing more changes. Read on for what to expect at 26 weeks.

Your Baby at 26 Weeks

At this stage, your baby is continually putting on fat and weighs nearly two pounds. Your baby’s nerves in their ears are more developed, so they can probably hear your voice. Your baby now measures about 14 inches in length, comparable to the length of a scallion (Baby Center). Your baby’s eyes will also open around this time.

Your Body

Stretch Marks

It’s about this time when stretch marks begin to appear. This is a natural part of pregnancy and sometimes not really avoidable since they’re genetic. However, there are lots of popular creams on the market to help prevent and lessen the effects.

Belly Button

There’s no need to be alarmed if your belly button has suddenly turned into an “outie.” Your enlarging uterus pushes your navel forward during pregnancy, but your belly button should go back to its previous form a few months post birth.

Symptoms

Every pregnant woman experiences different symptoms at different times. Here are some common ones that occur at 26 weeks.

Gas

This is a perfectly natural symptom during pregnancy and there’s no need to be ashamed. Pressure on your stomach is what leads to gas.

Migraines

Some women are more prone to headaches than others. Try natural remedies for relieving headaches or stronger migraines. Have your spouse give you a massage or do a few yoga poses.

Forgetfulness

Don’t worry, you’re not losing your mind! Forgetfulness and short term memory loss are expected symptoms during your second trimester. It’s only temporary. Utilize a notebook to write things down.

Achy Stomach

Naturally, you can expect your stomach to ache as it grows. More noticeable aches and cramps usually happen around the 26-week mark.

Blurred Vision

Blurry vision during pregnancy comes from dry eyes, as hormones decrease tear production. Eye drops are an easy fix for this symptom. (What to Expect)

This is by no means a complete list. If you’re unsure whether or not one of your symptoms is expected, always consult your physician. More than likely, what you’re experiencing is completely natural. Avoid the stress of trying to diagnose yourself on WebMD and just ask a professional.

Planning for Birth

Classes

Since birth will be here before you know it, you might consider taking a few classes. Most hospitals offer classes for new parents that are taught by a labor-and-delivery nurse. You can also opt for private classes, which will be a little pricier. Classes cover everything from pain management and troubleshooting to hospital visiting hours and procedures. It’s best to bring your spouse along so that you both have more confidence when the baby comes.

You can also take prenatal workout classes. These may help alleviate any aches and pains that you’re feeling.

Baby Name

If you haven’t already, now is a great time to start thinking about baby names. This should be a fun and stress-free activity for you and your spouse.

Get Your Home Ready

You still have plenty of time, but it’s a good idea to start shopping for baby essentials such as a crib. Refer to our guide on Preparing Your Home for the Baby.

We know there’s a lot to prepare before your baby comes home. The most important on your to-do list should be related to safety. This includes babyproofing your home and installing a car seat. Don’t know where to start when it comes to shopping for and installing a car seat? We’ve got you covered. Keep reading for everything you need to know.

Requirements by Age

Newborn to two years – (and weighing under 20 pounds) should be in a rear-facing car seat.

Two to four year-olds – should switch to a convertible seat after they outgrow the height/weight limit of the infant one. There’s a little debate when it comes to when to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing. Parenting.com and Consumer Reports recommend staying rear-facing until age two.

Children under age 8 – and under 40 pounds must be secured in a car seat at all times.

Age 12 – Kids should sit in the back seat until age 12.

Shopping for the Safest Car Seat

A car seat is something that you definitely want to have before the baby arrives, so it’s time to get shopping!

The most important tip is to buy new. Buy a new, not used car seat to ensure that it’s up-to-date with all of the most recent technological improvements. While all car seats have been tested for safety standards, everyone still wants to know which one is the absolute safest. Baby Bargains does a great job of rating all types of car seats in different price ranges.

Infant Seat v.s. Convertible Car Seat

There are two types of car seats available to you for newborns. A rear-facing infant seat is used just in the first year. On the other hand, a convertible seat starts rear-facing, but can then be turned to the front and adjusted as your little one grows up. Choosing a convertible seat will save you money down the road, however convertible seats typically can’t be removed easily from your car like infant seats. The convenience of moving your sleeping baby in their seat usually leads most parents to purchase an infant seat for the first year (Parents.com).

Installation

Each car seat comes with its own unique installation manual. In today’s technological world, some companies will even direct you to a Youtube tutorial. Make sure to read the manual before you try to install the seat. It’s also a good idea to just keep that manual in your glove box or somewhere else in your car so you know where it is.

A common mistake is forgetting to put the seatbelt in lock mode if your car doesn’t have self-locking ones. Since car seat installation is complicated and there’s so much room for mistakes, it’s not a bad idea to have a professional inspection. You can use Parents Central’s Inspection Station Locator to search for the nearest technician.

We hope that this guide has been helpful. Have you already started shopping and have an additional tip to share? Comment below!

The phrase, “Pics or it didn’t happen”, started on online message boards when users made farfetched claims that couldn’t be verified without photographic proof. Today that phrase is part of society’s ethos. Did you really go on vacation, eat a trendy meal, or get married if there isn’t at least one picturesque photo to show for it?

Babies take this craze to a whole other level. We all have that friend who posts naked pictures of their little one on a weekly basis. On the other hand, you likely have friends that live in other cities, and you wish you saw updates about their children more frequently on social media.

Today, parents need to create their own rules of engagement around that they will and will not share about their child on the internet. It’s best to make these decisions well before the due date.

Discuss these three questions as you draw your own boundary lines:

Will we make our child’s life public on the internet?

Who will be allowed to see photos of our child on the internet? (ie; Will we create a private Facebook group for family and friends?)

Are there any types of photos that we’ll never publicly share on the internet?

These clear guidelines allow you and your partner to enjoy taking photos that are meaningful to you rather than blindly following trends. With those boundaries in mind, you’re ready to start planning an epic, yet tasteful, social media birth announcement. There’s an option for every parental privacy preference.

Here are our six favorite ideas for social media birth announcements

The status update

If you’ve decided to keep your child’s life more private, or if you don’t want to worry about crafting an epic announcement of your baby’s birth, consider a simple status update. This option allows you to focus on savoring your first moments with your newborn, and you can save the pictures for your closest family and friends.

The private announcement

We can control who sees our social media content, and it’s a right that we often forget to exercise. There are several ways for you to share a post-birth photo with a target audience of your choosing. Consider creating a private Facebook group for your inner circle or a group chat in Messenger, Instagram or Snapchat. Instagram and Facebook also allow you to exclude certain people from viewing a post. The private birth announcement is a nice middle ground between not sharing photos at all and sharing photos to the world.

The sneak preview

You’re just getting to know your little one’s face, and you may not want everyone to see it just yet. That’s understandable! Why not post a photo of your newborn’s tiny hands or feet? Our Priceless Little Pieces photos are cherished by our clients. Your friends and family will see just enough of your new baby to fall in love.

The mother and child shot

There are two questions that loved ones ask after the baby’s birth. “Is the baby healthy?”, and “How is mom doing?” You can answer both questions with one picture. There’s a certain magic in a picture of a mother and child in the calm after the chaos of birth. Maybe it’s the look of love in the mother’s eyes. Maybe it’s the post-birth glow. Because it is an intimate shot, and it’s impossible to predict how you’ll feel in the moment, have a backup birth announcement photo planned.

The family shot

Your baby is the newest addition to your family. Show exactly where your newborn fits in by using a family photo for your social media birth announcement. We’ve captured countless new family photos, and they never cease to warm our hearts. From parents marveling at their newborn to siblings experience their little brother or sister for the first time, these photos are an ideal way to introduce your new baby to your circle.

Multi-photo announcement

Sometimes you’re so enraptured by your little one, that you can’t choose just one photo. You don’t have to! Create a Facebook album or make use of the multi-photo gallery on Instagram, and share away. There are also several collage apps that are a parent’s best friend. Try Pic Collage or PicArt to put all of your favorite photos in one place.

These ideas will help you announce your baby’s birth on social media while staying true to your own privacy preferences. Nothing beats the convenience of having a photographer come to the hospital to capture the beauty of your newborn. If you’ll be DIYing your photos, here are a few tips:

Clothe your child. Your newborn can only wear those tiny outfits for so long, and not everyone wants to see a naked baby in their newsfeed. A fully clothed photo will probably garner a more positive response.

Keep it simple. It’s trendy to use props in birth announcement photos, but you’ll be tired from giving birth. Don’t waste your energy on styling a perfect photo.

When it doubt, go black and white. Hospital lighting can be weird. If your photo doesn’t look the way you want it to, know that a black and white filter can work wonders.

How did you announce your new baby’s birth on social media? Are there any boundaries that you set? We want to know! Share them in the comments below.